Photo of a small modern partial sun backyard concrete paver outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in Seattle for spring.

The level backyard is perfect for sports; hedges and a mortared limestone retaining wall create an elegant boundary. Photography by Drew Gray
Photo of a mid-sized modern backyard stone formal garden in Minneapolis for summer.

Brooklyn Backyard Oasis. Blue stone patio, Ceder privacy fence.
Design ideas for a small modern full sun backyard stone formal garden in New York for summer.

Photography by Matthew Momberger
This is an example of a huge modern full sun backyard gravel landscaping in Los Angeles for summer.

This backyard transformation focuses on high-impact, year-round aesthetics with minimal upkeep. The centerpiece is a lush artificial turf lawn that maintains a perfect "manicured" look without water or mowing. The lawn is defined by sweeping, organic curves of stone curbing, which separates the green space from a textured river rock bed. A striking cobalt-blue ceramic fountain serves as a focal point, providing both visual interest and the soothing sound of running water. For relaxation, a heavy-timber cedar pergola anchors the space, supporting two modern hanging egg chairs over a stamped concrete patio. The side yard is designed for functionality and cleanliness, featuring a level path of compacted decomposed granite bordered by a narrow rock trench for superior drainage. The entire perimeter is enclosed by a tall, board-on-board cedar fence, providing maximum privacy while complementing the natural wood tones of the pergola and seating area.

Photo of a large modern backyard landscaping in Boston.

Dining area and fire feature. Jason LIske, photographer
Inspiration for a modern backyard gravel landscaping in San Francisco.

The fire pit is bordered by a ring of Mexican beach pebbles, which is then surrounded by a spar dust circle. Westhauser Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized modern partial sun backyard gravel landscaping in Milwaukee with a fire pit for summer.

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant, rock and full sun backyard river rock and metal fence landscaping in Los Angeles for summer.

Rock outcroppings make a striking background for new lounge areas in this compact Los Angeles hillside garden. Working with the attributes of the site, we added native plants to drape over the stone, and converted hollowed stone planters into a firepit and water feature. New built-in seating and a cozy hammock complete the relaxing space, and dramatic lighting makes it come alive at night. Photo by Martin Cox Photography.

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern full sun backyard landscaping in DC Metro for summer.

This elegant backyard transformation blends modern clean lines with natural textures, creating a serene and stylish outdoor living space. The custom-built grill station features a stone veneer base, granite countertop, and horizontal cedar privacy screen, all set beneath a bold wood pergola that adds architectural interest and shade. The adjacent landscape features organic curves, boulder accents, and a dry creek bed of mixed river rocks, which bring a touch of nature into the structured space. Thoughtful planting, layered mulch, and soft outdoor lighting enhance the cozy, curated look—making this backyard ideal for relaxing evenings or weekend entertaining.

Native Edge Landscape, LLC
Photo of a small modern backyard landscaping in Austin for summer.

photo by Seed Studio, editing by TR PhotoStudio
This is an example of a small modern drought-tolerant and full sun backyard gravel landscaping in San Francisco with a fire pit.

Pergola and kitchen are focal items.
Design ideas for a small modern backyard landscaping in New York.

Photo of a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant, desert and full sun backyard concrete paver landscaping in Other.

This backyard landscape design is inspired by our Blu Grande Smooth patio slab. Perfect paving slab for modern poolsides and backyard design, Blu Grande Smooth is a large concrete patio stone available in multiple colors. It's smooth texture is sleek to the eye but rougher to the touch which avoids it from getting slippery when wet. The large rectangular shape works as an easy add-on into Blu 60 regular modular patterns but can also work as a stand-alone to create a very linear look. Check out the HD2 Blu Grande Smooth which is all about seamless looks with a tighter/poreless texture and anti-aging technology. Check out our website to shop the look! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/slabs/blu-grande-smooth/

This garden was designed to celebrate panoramic views of the San Gabriel mountains. Horizontal bands of slate tile from the interior of the mid-century home wrap around the house’s perimeter and extend to the rear pool area, inviting the family outdoors. With a pool framed by mature trees, a sunken seating area, fruit trees, and a modest lawn for a young family, the landscape provides a wide range of opportunities for play, entertaining and relaxation. Photos by Martin Cox Photography.

YardDoc designed and created multiple rock landscapes for customers in Austin, TX. These drought resistant landscapes liven up your yard with unique designs and individual beauty. While we craft every landscape to the yard and customer, we present examples here to inspire you. Working with the existing trees and plants, we built this landscape to match the wrought iron fence. First, we placed a limestone barrier in a design reminiscent of a lake emptying into a river. Outside the retainer stone, we laid larger, red river rocks. On the inside we placed smaller, black rocks to highlight the rest of our modifications. We built a stone fire pit in the center then crafted stone benches for seating around the campfire. We built a path our of large, flat stones that bring the different colors and textures together. Finally, we placed one last stone that, while decorative, can also be used as an end table, if necessary.